Moroney nets five goals as Manhasset wins LI 'C' title

Usually if a Manhasset boys lacrosse game has been televised this season, a camera has been fixed on Drew Belinsky near the end because he's had a strong game. But in the fourth quarter of the Indians' 11-7 win over Glenn last night for the Long Island Class C title, the attention was on Pat Moroney, who scored five goals.

Belinsky made sure to tease Moroney about it on the sideline, squirting him in the face with water from a green Gatorade bottle.

"We're having fun," said Moroney, who returned the favor. "Drew is usually the one with the camera in his face, but I never did that to him. I'm usually pretty respectful. I had to get him back."

This isn't to say Belinsky didn't deserve attention, too. He had three goals and two assists, including Manhasset's first two scores to ignite the offense.

Manhasset (18-0) led 11-2 with five minutes left in the game and extended its state-best winning streak to 34 in capturing its second straight Long Island championship. The defending state champs, ranked No. 2 in the nation, play Putnam Valley (18-4) in a state semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Hofstra.

"Everyone did their part," Moroney said of the team whose motto is 'All In.' "Drew found me up top and I put them in, and the defense did great. We just want to keep rolling on Thursday and take it from there."

Moroney, a senior midfielder, scored Manhasset's final two goals of the first half to give the Indians a 5-2 lead and he scored three straight second-half goals to make it 9-2 five minutes into the fourth quarter. He finished with two man-up goals and often had time and space to get a clean shot off against Glenn's zone defense.

SEE PHOTOSManhasset 11, John Glenn 7

As did a few teammates. In the first half, the Indians outshot Glenn 21-5. They also won the ground ball battle in the first half 18-8.

Glenn, making its first LIC appearance in just its fourth varsity season as a program, finished 11-7.

Manhasset is two wins away from capturing consecutive state titles.

"In the beginning of the season, I was a little worried that we're going to go down and lose a couple games," sophomore defenseman Rob Duvnjak said. "But we've gone undefeated, won every big game and have really stepped it up during playoffs."